German MPs want more war

The German parliament voted to keep German troops in Afghanistan last Friday.

All 51 MPs of the Left Party present voted against. Seven Green MPs voted against, 15 for and 28 abstained—a majority ignoring a resolution passed by a Green Party conference demanding a no vote.

The total vote was 453 in favour of maintaining Germany’s military presence, 79 against and 48 abstentions.

A consistent two thirds of Germans are against the war. In a recent survey 52 percent demanded the immediate withdrawal of all troops from Afghanistan.

But it is crucial for the ruling class that Germany is a reliable partner for the US and Nato, because Germany alone is not able to protect its economic and geostrategic interests. Afghanistan is meant to prove this “reliability”.

There is a growing movement against German involvement in the Afghan war.

On 14 November there will be a vote in the German parliament on prolonging “Operation Enduring Freedom”. We hope to get more MPs to vote against it.